Dragons of Spring Dawning - Margaret Weis [109]
Then he heard Tika cry out. Raising his head, he realized with grim amusement that he had probably just gained his life only to lose it. About thirty draconians appeared on the trail behind them. Tanis turned to look across the gaping hole in the center of the bridge. The other side of the platform was still standing. He might jump across the huge hole to safety, and so might Berem and Caramon—but not Tas, not Flint, not Tika, or the old mage.
“Excellent targets, you said,” Caramon murmured, drawing his sword.
“Cast a spell, Old One!” Tasslehoff said suddenly.
“What?” Fizban blinked.
“A spell!” Tas cried, pointing at the draconians, who—seeing the companions trapped on the bridge—hurried up to finish them off.
“Tas, we’re in enough trouble,” Tanis began, the bridge creaking beneath his feet. Moving warily, Caramon stationed himself squarely in front of them, facing the draconians.
Fitting an arrow to his bowstring, Tanis fired. A draconian clutched its chest and fell, shrieking, off the cliff. The half-elf fired again and hit again. The draconians in the center of the line hesitated, milling about in confusion. There was no cover, no way to escape the half-elf’s deadly barrage. The draconians in the front of the line surged forward toward the bridge.
At that moment, Fizban began to cast his spell.
Hearing the old mage chant, Tanis felt his heart sink. Then he reminded himself bitterly that they really couldn’t be in a worse position. Berem, next to him, was watching the draconians with a stoic composure that Tanis found startling until he remembered that Berem didn’t fear death; he would always return to life. Tanis fired again and another draconian howled in pain. So intent was he on his targets, that he forgot Fizban until he heard Berem gasp in astonishment. Glancing up, Tanis saw Berem staring into the sky. Following Berem’s gaze, the half-elf was so astonished he nearly dropped his bow.
Descending from the clouds, glittering brightly in the dying rays of the sun, was a long golden bridge span. Guided by motions of the old mage’s hand, the golden span dropped down out of the heavens to close the gap in the bridge.
Tanis came to his senses. Looking around, he saw that—for the moment—the draconians were also transfixed, staring at the golden span with glittering reptilian eyes.
“Hurry!” Tanis yelled. Gripping Berem by the arm, he dragged the Everman after him and jumped up onto the span as it hovered just about a foot above the gap. Berem followed, stumbling up clumsily. Even as they stood on it, the span kept dropping, slowing a bit under Fizban’s guidance.
The span was still about eight inches above the platform when Tasslehoff, shrieking wildly, leaped onto it, pulling the awestruck dwarf up after him. The draconians—suddenly realizing their prey was going to escape—howled in rage and surged onto the wooden bridge. Tanis stood on the golden span, near its end, firing his arrows at the lead draconians. Caramon remained behind, driving them back with his sword.
“Get on across!” Tanis ordered Tika as she hopped onto the span beside him. “Stay beside Berem. Keep an eye on him. You, too, Flint, go with her. Go on!” he snarled viciously.
“I’ll stay with you, Tanis,” Tasslehoff offered.
Casting a backward glance at Caramon, Tika reluctantly obeyed orders, grabbing hold of Berem and shoving him along before her. Seeing the draconians coming, he needed little urging. Together they dashed across the span onto the remaining half of the wooden bridge. It creaked alarmingly beneath their weight. Tanis only hoped it would hold, but he couldn’t spare a glance. Apparently it was, for he heard Flint’s thick boots clumping across it.
“We made it!” Tika yelled from the side of the canyon.
“Caramon!” Tanis shouted, firing another arrow, trying to keep his footing on the golden span.
“Go ahead!” Fizban snapped at Caramon irritably. “I’m concentrating.